Hoisting-crane.



No. 723,128. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903.

W. E. BODEN.

HOISTING CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2%, 1902.

30 MODEL.

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U IT D l STATES PATENT OFFI E.

WILLIAM E. BODEN, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

HOISTING-CRANE.

, SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 723,128, dated March 1'7, 1903.

Application filed June 25,1902.

To all whom it may concern:

amount of danger.

In placing electrical transformers in position on electric lines when the transformer weighed more than one hundred pounds it sition.

has been a task of considerable difficulty and some danger in getting it properlyplaced, owing to the fact that it must be placed near the top of a pole and in close proximity to wires that carry a high voltage, and that no device specially designed for that purpose has been heretofore provided as far as I know. Such work has heretofore usually required three or more men to perform it, and a slip in the handling of the transformer sometimes resulted in serious injury and sometimes in death. By the use of my improved hoistingcrane this danger is reduced to a minimum and the Work may be performed by a single man.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my hoisting-crane and a transformer almost elevated to its proper p0 Fig. 2 is a side view of the detached crane. Fig. 3 is a detail showingthe man nor of adjusting the arms of the yoke of the crane.

In the drawings, A is the shaft of the crane, the top portion of which is bent preferably at right angles and terminates in an. eye B for the reception of the hook of a block and tackle C. When in position for use, the base of this shaft rests upon the upper cross-arm D, affixed to the pole E. To the base of the shaft are affixed bracing-arms F, which propreferably at right anglesithereto. The outer ject therefrom a little above the cross-arms,

ends of thesebraciug-arms are bent so as to rest upon the cross-arm when in position for use. To prevent the shaft and its bracing- Serial No. 113,139. (No model.)

arms from slipping off the cross-arm, each outer end of the bracing-arms is provided with a yoke G, suitably fastened thereto, which straddles the cross-arm and is locked thereon by pin H, which is passed through the hole I in the arms of the yoke, which hole is preferably circular and has an enlargement near the bottom thereof. One end of the pin is bent to form a head and handle H and the other end is provided with a projecting lug H, which is on the opposite side of the pin from the handle and is adapted to pass through the enlargement of the hole and act as a lock to prevent the pinfrom coming out of the hole I in the arms of the yoke when the handle hangs down, which is the position whichit naturally assumes. To give the crane greater steadiness, I affix to the base of the shaft a downwardly-projecting brace which extends to or below the cross-arm.

In the operation ofmy device the Workman takes the crane and ascends the pole and places the crane in position on the upper cross-arm. If he is alone, he has carried up with him a light line, one end of which is fastened to one of the hooks of the block and tackle. He then draws up the end of the block and tackle and places the hook in the eye of the shaft. He then descends and places a rope K around the transformer L, into which he places the other hook of the block and tackle and then draws the transformer up to near the top of the upper cross-arm, so that the hooks M of the transformer are nearly on a line therewith. He then fastens the rope and ascends the pole and draws the transformer as high as needed and swingsit into place, with the hooks over the cross-arm. As the block and tackle gives the workman great power, he has perfect control of the transformer, and it is obvious that there is no danger of accidents either of the workman slipping or of the transformer slipping.

In electrical work the standard cross-arms are four inches square; butsometimes they may be a little less, and it is very desirable that the crane shall be perfectly rigid when on the cross-arm. The arms of the yoke have a slight adj ustability, so that they can be adjusted to obviate any slight decrease in the size of the cross-arm, slots N in one'of the arms G of the yoke, through which project bolts 0, which pass through the other arm G, in which they are non-rotative, being provided for that purpose.

It is obvious thatother means may be adopted to fasten the crane upon the cross-arm without departing from the spirit of my invention, which consists in a crane adapted to be fastened upon the uppercross-arm on the pole of an electric line.

In the construction of my crane I prefer to make it of wrought iron or steel and to weld the parts together where possible, but any other suitable construction may be adopted.

outer end of each bracing-arm, said yoke be ing adapted to straddle the cross-arm, and

means to fasten the yoke to the cross-arm.

2. Acraneforhoistingelectricaltransformers comprisinga shaft having the top portion bent and means to fasten a block and tackle thereto; bracing-arms affixed to said shaft near the bottom thereof, the outer ends of said arms being bent downward and adapted to rest on the cross-bar at the top of a pole ofan electric line and means to secure said arms to said cross-arm.

3. A crane for hoisting electrical transformers comprising a shaft having the top portion bent and having an eye in the end thereof; bracing-arms affixed to said shaft near the bottom thereof, the outer ends of said arms being bent downward; yokes afiixed to the outer ends of said arms adapted to straddle the cross-arm of a pole of an electric line; a pin adapted to pass through holes in the lower end of the arms of each of said yokes, the arms of said yoke being adjustable; and a downwardly-projecting brace affixed to the bottom of said shaft.

Inwvitness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of June, 1902.

WILLIAM E. BODEN.

Witnesses:

HENRY T. HAZARD, CHAS. L. HYDE. 

